The Journal of Adolescent Health has published a research that suggests that people who start smoking between the ages of 18 and 24, are subject to three risk factors – being impulsive, using alcohol regularly, and getting poor grades in school.
The study, conducted by researches at the University of Montreal School of Public Health, based their date from 1,293 teens from the greater Montreal are who were part of the Nicotine Dependence in Teen study that started in 199. The teens were followed up in 22 “cycles,” from when they were at an average age of 12.7 to when they were at an average age of 24. By cycle 22, 75% of the teens had tried smoking. 44% of the teens started smoking before entering high school and 43% started during high school.
Researches found that impulsivity, poor grades and regular alcohol use were the three risk factors linked with those who began smoking after high school – or when they’re between ages 18 and 24.
Jennifer O’Loughlin, a professor at the university and study researcher said impulsivity plays a role in smoking in young adulthood as “parents of impulsive children exercise tighter control when they are living with them at home to protect their children from adopting behaviors that can lead to smoking, and this protection may diminish over time.
The study also states that smoking can lead to alcohol because it “reduces inhibitions and self-control”.
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